holladay



(No Model.)

J. M. HOLLADAY. AX HEAD.

Patented Mar. 3,1891.

Fries.

Aralar JOHN M. HOLLADAY, OF HOLLADAY, VIRGINIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,685, dated March 3, 1891.

Application iiled February 28, 1890. Serial No. 342,126. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN M. HOLLADAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Holladay, in the county o f Spottsylvania and State of 'Tirginia, have invented a new and useful Ax-llead, of which the following' is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in axes using removable, reversible, and interchangeable cutting-blades. and has for its main objects strength and simplicity of parts and cheapness of construction by adaptation for manufacture almost wholly by machinery.

lVith these general objects in view the invention consists in certain peculiar features of construction, hereinafter specified and particularly pointed out, as will be seen by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an aX-head provided with a removable, reversible, interchangeable cutting-blade constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the head proper with blade removed. Fig. 3 is a section on the line as :c of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a perspective of removable blade. Fig. 5 is a section on line. 5 5 of Fig. 1.

This ax is made in two pieces, viz: the head proper 1, provided with the usual hole 9 for the handle and having two lingers 10 with an inverted- U -shaped recess 4 between them, and two downwardly-inclined shoulders 12, one on the outside edge of each finger. The lingers 10 have curved edges of V-shaped cross-section and the faces of the shoulders 12 are similarly shaped.

rlhe cutting-blade 2, having a cutting-edge 8, is provided with oneiinger 5 to t the recess 4 in the head and two U -shaped recesses 14 with concave ed ges to match the edges of the lingers 10 of the head. The blade is also provided with two downwardly-inclined shoulders 13 and the recess 14, and shoulders 13 all have Vshaped slots in their edges to match the edges of those in the head, thus providing a perfect and rigid interlocking of the head and blade, which are additionally secured by two pins or rivets 7, and making an exceedingly strong connection between the parts, yet permitting easy separation and interchange, but avoiding all tendency either to shackle or stick in the socket. The outer edges ofthe lingers 10 in the head andthe notched edges of the end fingers of the blade are provided with registering semicircular notches 3, and when the head and blade are brought together these notches form circular openings, in which rivets 7 are inserted. The ends of the latter may be sunk beneath the faces of the aX-head, and then tamped to swell their bodies within said openings, as seen in Fig. 5, from which position they cannot become accidentally detached, al though they can be driven out when desired, and where their heads will not be struck by the material being chopped,therebytending to dislodge them. The bodies of these rivets serve only to keep the tongues 10 from disengaging the recesses 14 vertically, all lateral disengagement being prevented by the sharp edge on the head closely fitting the V-shaped groove in the blade. The downward incline of the faces 12 and 13 prevents the outer tongue from being sprungaway from the aX-head, as might occurif the faces were horizontal or inclined upwardly, and the provision of the long tongues at each end of the blade member gives harder metal corners over which to pry, as in splitting wood. Although I have shown the rivets 7 as round, it will be understood that they may be angular in cross-section; indeed, a square rivet would perhaps answer better, as all tendency to roll would be avoided. lVhen worn at one end, the blade may be changed end for end, and when dulled or nicked throughout it may be replaced by a new blade.

In some cases I may make the ax with only a single tongue, and will of course omit the central tongue 5 of the blade; but I do not wish to be understood as in any way depreciating the value of the construction already shown and described.

I prefer to make the head 1 of cast steel, although forged steel will answer equally well. The blade 2 is preferably of drop forged steel stamped into blanks,7 shaped by dies into exact size, grooved along the upper edges by a rapidly-revolving cutter-wheel, and finally ground or finished, although the mode of manufacture forms no part of the present invention. However, the commercial success of a tool of this character depends largely IOO upon the eheapness of its making, and l niention this to give a general idea of the sinlplicity of that process.

\Vhat I elaiin isw l The head l, having on its lower edge the two ngers 10, interposed recess 4, and outer downwardly-inelined shoulders l2, in eonibination with the blade 2, having its upper edge 'formed with three fingers to t said lower edge, and means, substantially as described, for removably connecting the said fingers with the blade, as set forth.

2. The head l, having on its lower edge a finger and donuwardly-inelined shoulders l2 at eaeh end of the head, in combination with the blade il, having its upper edge formed to f1tsaid lower edge, registering notches 3 in said edges, and rivets 7, seated in said registering notches, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afxed my signature in presence oi' two witnesses.

JOHN M. IIOLLADAY.

Witnesses:

HENRY M. IIOLLADAY, Gno. A. POINDEXTER. 

